"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Al Reser," OSU football coach Mike Riley
said this morning. "He was a good friend and our hearts go out to his great family. We'll miss him, and will always be proud to play our games in the stadium so fittingly named after him.''

OSU athletic director Bob De Carolis said in a statement: "On behalf of Beaver Nation and the entire athletic department our thoughts and prayers go out to the Reser Family on their loss of Al. He is a great friend of this department and his support is truly evident in athletics as well as the rest of campus. I will sorely miss those lunch meetings at his plant or watching him scoot around the stadium with a huge smile on his face.

"He and his family are the architects of whatever success this department has enjoyed. While he may be gone from this earth his legacy and spirit will be with us for a long time."

Reser's passing was unexpected. He was not experiencing serious health issues. He had problems with his heart a few years ago, and had undergone eight surgical procedures for his back and knees, but otherwise seemed fine.

Indeed, Reser was excited to learn a few days ago that he had a box for the Beavers' season-opening football game at Cowboys Stadium against Texas Christian.

In talking with Reser friends and athletic department employees over the years, one theme stood out: despite the wealth he accumulated as the owner of Reser's Fine Foods in Beaverton, Al Reser (and wife Pat) were just regular people.

He loved his university, and he especially loved the OSU football program that suffered through 28 years of losing before Riley came aboard in 1997 to start the turnaround.

"He was just a regular guy,'' said an OSU spokesman, telling a story about how Reser - riding in his scooter - would motor through the equipment room at the Valley Center and spend an hour talking with equipment managers about the big washing machine that cleaned the uniforms.

In January, when rumors were swirling that Riley might be the next USC football coach after Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks' job, it was Reser who called Riley to make sure Riley was staying.

"I really didn't think he would leave, but you never know,'' said Reser, whose initial donation kick-started the school's Raising Reser expansion project.

Although Reser said in January that he and his wife were easing away from being major athletic department contributors so they could help finance other projects at the school (they gave more than $10 million for the $62.5 million Linus Pauling Science Center) Al Reser was still actively involved not only in football plans but the hoped-for construction of a new basketball practice facility that would help keep OSU basketball coach Craig Robinson on the job.

Al Reser died Monday evening.

Pat Reser was in Spain, on a hiking trip with two of the Reser children, when it happened.

One of Reser's five children, Marty Reser, accepted a distinguished alumni award for his father Saturday night during the OSU Alumni Association's Orange and Black Evening in the Pearl District.

Riley, who had grown close to Al Reser over the years, was part of a video tribute to the school's biggest athletic donor.

"He carried us when it was important,'' said an OSU spokesman about Reser's legacy as an athletic department booster.